A visibly frustrated Luke Humphries has launched a scathing attack on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), accusing the sport’s governing body of “organized bias” following his consecutive final defeats in the Premier League Darts and the Nordic Masters.
The world number one, who fell short in the Premier League final to Michael van Gerwen last month before losing a tense Nordic Masters showpiece to Gerwyn Price on Sunday, did not hold back in the post-match press conference.
“It’s the same script every time,” Humphries said, shaking his head. “I’m not just losing to better players on the night. I’m losing to the system. There’s an organized bias within the PDC, and it’s becoming impossible to ignore.”
Humphries, known for his calm demeanor, appeared uncharacteristically agitated as he detailed his grievances. While he stopped short of providing specific documentary evidence, he pointed to what he described as “suspicious scheduling disadvantages” and “inconsistent crowd management” in both finals.
“In the Premier League final, I had a 45-minute shorter turnaround than my opponent,” he claimed. “Then in Copenhagen, the walk-on times were delayed arbitrarily, the stage lighting felt off, and every 50-50 call from the officials went against me. You tell me that’s coincidence.”
The 29-year-old also suggested that the PDC has a vested interest in promoting certain “marquee names” over newer champions. “Darts is entertainment, I get that,” Humphries added. “But when the organization starts influencing outcomes to protect its box office draws, it stops being a sport.”
The PDC swiftly rejected the allegations. In a statement released Monday morning, a spokesperson called Humphries’ remarks “unfounded and deeply disappointing.”
“Luke Humphries is an exceptional talent and a deserving world champion,” the statement read. “The PDC operates with absolute integrity. Match officials, scheduling, and technical conditions are applied equally to all players. We invite Mr. Humphries to provide any evidence of his claims through official channels rather than unsubstantiated public accusations.”
Fellow players reacted with caution. Nathan Aspinall tweeted, “Tough losses hurt, but ‘organized bias’ is a big claim. Needs more than just frustration to back that up.” Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price, who defeated Humphries in the Nordic Masters final, dismissed the comments as “sour grapes.”
“I beat him fair and square on the board,” Price told Darts Weekly. “Nobody rigged the treble 20 for me. If he wants to blame someone, blame my finishing, not the PDC.”
Fans online were divided. Some supported Humphries’ call for greater transparency in tournament logistics, while others accused him of making excuses after high-profile losses.
Sports psychologist and darts analyst Dr. Ellen Marks suggested the pressure of being world number one may be taking its toll. “Back-to-back final losses are mentally devastating,” she said. “It’s not uncommon for elite athletes to externalize blame in those moments. But accusing an entire governing body of bias crosses a serious line unless he has proof.”
As of now, Humphries has not indicated whether he will file a formal complaint with the PDC’s disciplinary or integrity units. However, he warned that if the “bias” continues, he would consider “stepping back from select televised events until fairness is restored.”
For now, the PDC is unlikely to take the accusations lightly—not only because they come from the world number one, but because they strike at the heart of the sport’s credibility. Whether Humphries’ claims are a cry of frustration or the first shot in a deeper scandal remains to be seen.
